running in winter?

So last summer and fall I went running quite often, and improved my endurance substantially; but now that it's winter here in rural MN, I can no longer run outside because it's either just plain too cold in the mornings, or it's icy and slippery. I tried running inside, like hallways and such, but it just made my shin splints a lot worse. I can still do all my strength training and everything, but I'm worried about cardiovascular endurance. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do during the winter to help with running endurance for BCT and to not lose what I gained in the warmer months?

So last summer and fall I went running quite often, and improved my endurance substantially; but now that it's winter here in rural MN, I can no longer run outside because it's either just plain too cold in the mornings, or it's icy and slippery. I tried running inside, like hallways and such, but it just made my shin splints a lot worse. I can still do all my strength training and everything, but I'm worried about cardiovascular endurance. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do during the winter to help with running endurance for BCT and to not lose what I gained in the warmer months?

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Do you have access to any indoor courts (basketball, tennis, etc.) that you could run on?

A great CV work-out is swimming if you have access to an indoor pool.

If no to all of the above, try a membership to a local YMCA or gym if there are any close enough and hit the treadmill.

So last summer and fall I went running quite often, and improved my endurance substantially; but now that it's winter here in rural MN, I can no longer run outside because it's either just plain too cold in the mornings, or it's icy and slippery. I tried running inside, like hallways and such, but it just made my shin splints a lot worse. I can still do all my strength training and everything, but I'm worried about cardiovascular endurance. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do during the winter to help with running endurance for BCT and to not lose what I gained in the warmer months?

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Jump rope workouts are something that SEALs have used to keep up their cardio when they have no access to equipment and are somewhere where running is not an option.

i am a personal trainer - i often use cardio/ strength circuit training with my clients: set up stations around your house or basement alternating a cardio station with a strength station. make the strength station an exercise that uses multiple muscles upper and lower body.
ie: station #1 running stairs; #2 chest press using weights to a crunch on a stability ball or pushups to a spiderman ( knee to elbow on outside alternatingsides) or mountain climber (knee to chest) type plank - doing the mountain climber fast can also be a cardio station; #3 jump rope; #4 weighted squat to a bicep curl and overhead press; #5 jump with one foot side to side (or front/back)over a line on the ground or an object if you have high enough ceilings to power a jump up; switch to other foot; #6 side lunge to high/low row alternating sides #7 squat thrusts or burbees or jumping jacks #8 tricep dips off a chair or pullups

make sure you do a dynamic warmup then spend 2 minutes at each station with no rest between stations; do the cardio as fast as you can maintaining good form; do the strength at a tempo but do not rush your reps and keep excellent form. don't go too heavy with your strength initially. repeat the circuit 2 or 3 times. you will be surprised at how challenging a workout this can be. plus it doesn't get as boring as 30 minutes straight of running stairs. you can get ideas for stations in books/magazines or online - look up examples of simple plyometric moves. end with prone, supine and side planks for more core strength and stretch for flexibility.

To be honest, running isn't that important for bct. Besides the 1.5 mile run, most of your exercise is done in a hallway or clearing with very little running. I don't think I ran more than 10 mile for the entire 6 week period. Also, if you play sports and you're relatively fit, there will be some extremely out of shape person who will slow down the runs to the point where it's a fast walk/slow jog.

I'd focus on burpees/bodybuilders/manmakers, flutterkicks, and pushups. You may think you can do a lot but there was a cadre member during basic who literally did 1000 perfect pushups without resting. Just something to shoot for.

If you can, check out Crossfit Endurance; most of their exercises won't last more than 10 minutes and can be done in a somewhat small area. Lather up the vaseline (cuts the wind like nothing else), put some screws in your shoes, and get down to business.

alright thanks! I'm a gymnast, so my anaerobic fitness is great, just aerobic is a little lacking...I checked out crossfit endurance, it looks pretty good, and I think I'm going to give it a shot. m
man these forums are great; everyone is always so helpful and I'm very glad I joined

To be honest, running isn't that important for bct. Besides the 1.5 mile run, most of your exercise is done in a hallway or clearing with very little running. I don't think I ran more than 10 mile for the entire 6 week period.

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Did you skip the morning runs or something?
You should have been getting 3-4miles every other morning as a baseline...

Honestly there is a lot more running during 1st Beast. Every other morning is a run around the terrazzo (very early in the morning). There was much less running during Jacks (you still get up and do pt, but there are more courses they cycle through). There were other courses we did in the morning so I only remember running once or twice. Of course our cadre made us run to and from CATM and run to the courses, but it was usually pretty slow.

I would say that the amount of running depends on your cadre. We ran ALL the time in jacks because our flight comm was on the track team and loved to run. In general, if you are from sea level running will help with everything. I suppose you could say running isn't important if you are already a good runner or from altitude, but the benefits from running as far as just overall stamina are why you should run as part of your preparation.

Did you skip the morning runs or something?
You should have been getting 3-4miles every other morning as a baseline...

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Completely forgot about those. However, still isn't much of an issue. Assuming you're in good shape, the laps should be completely doable. That, and you only run as hard as you want to (though it's a great opportunity to stay in shape during basic).

Hey I live 20 min from you! And about running in the winter, it is never too cold. I have run every day for an entire winter outside, including the days when it was 20 below zero with 30+ below wind chill. You just need a face mask to warm your nose and the air you breathe in. Otherwise just do strength training indoors, make a bike spinner, jumping jacks, etc.

Hey I live 20 min from you! And about running in the winter, it is never too cold. I have run every day for an entire winter outside, including the days when it was 20 below zero with 30+ below wind chill. You just need a face mask to warm your nose and the air you breathe in. Otherwise just do strength training indoors, make a bike spinner, jumping jacks, etc.